Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Jolys was first found in Britina. It was a name for a person originating in France, and was associated with the French Huguenots. This nickname surname originated with an early member who was a happy and lively person. But we must look to Normandy where the earliest records of the root name was found. As a variant of Jolliffe, it was found there as early as 1195 with N. Giolif. Three years later Robert Jolif was listed in a census in the same area of Normandy.

Early Origins of the Jolys family

The surname Jolys was first found in Yorkshire where there are numerous variations of the name listed in the YorkshirePoll Tax Rolls of 1379 including: Johannes Yoly, Agnes, servienes Joly Johnan, Henricus Joly; Ricardus Jolyman; Willelmus Jolyman and Johannes Jolyman. This distinguished Huguenot family were granted lands firstly in Staffordshire. Many moved north into Scotland where records there show Alan and Bervy Jolly were granted lands in the county of Edinburgh in 1450.

Early History of the Jolys family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jolys research.Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1677, 1684, 1629, 1703, 1659 and 1714 are included under the topic Early Jolys History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jolys Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Jolys are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Jolys include Jollie, Jolley, Jolly, Jollys and others.

Early Notables of the Jolys family (pre 1700)

Notable in the family at this time was Rev. James Jollie, senior chaplain of the Church of Scotland and chaplain of St. Andrew's Church in Madras; Thomas Jollie (1629-1703) was an English Dissenter, a minister ejected for his... Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jolys Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jolys family to Ireland

Some of the Jolys family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jolys family to the New World and Oceana

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Jolys, or a variant listed above: Francis Jolly, who settled in Virginia in 1648; John Jolly settled in Virginia in 1637; along with Joseph, Marjorie, Mary; David, George, Thomas and Edward Jolly all arrived in Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860..